Automatically-locking sash balance for removable sash windows



Sept. l5, 1959 F. c. os'rEN, sR

AUTOMATICALLY-LOCKING SASH BALANCE FOR REMOVABLE SASH WINDOWS Filed Sept. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15,l 1959 F. c. osTEN, sR

AUTOMATICALLY-LOCKING SASH BALANCE FOR REMOVABLE SASH WINDOWS Filed Sept. 24, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 Lw; TfVllli INVENTOR. BY F5196/ Cf (7b/:W14

United States Patent-O AUTOMATICALLY-LOCKING SASH BALANCE FOR REMOVABLE SASH WINDOWS Fred C. Osten, Sr., Detroit, Mich.

Application September 24, 1956, Serial No. 611,509

6 Claims. (Cl. 16197) This invention relates to builders hardware and, in particular, to sash balances.

One object of this invention is to provide an .automatically-locking sash balance for removable sash windows having means for instantly and automatically locking the sash balance in its attained tensioned position upon removal of the sash, regardless of the location at which the sash is removed.

Another object is to provide an'automatically-locking sash balance, as set forth in the preceding object, wherein reinsertion of the sash in the window frame automatically unlocks the sash balance when the sash, or a portion thereof, is moved into engagement with a trigger portion of the sash balance.

Another object is to provide an automatically-locking sash balance, as set lforth in the preceding objects, wherein the removable sash is provided with a uni-directional trigger-tripping device which enables the sash to be replaced in the window frame at any locationand actuates the sash balance trigger to unlock and reapply the tension of the sash balance when the sash is lowered to a point where the trigger-tripping device engages the trigger, but which yields without actuating the trigger when the sash is reinserted in the window frame with the trigger-tripping idevice below the trigger yand raised until the triggertripping device is above the trigger, whereupon subsequent lowering of the sash causes the trigger-tripping device to engage the trigger andfunlock the Vsash balance, thereby enabling the sash to be removed and replaced at random. p

Another object is to provide an automatically-locking sash balance of the foregoing character wherein the sash balance is housed in a substantially tubular casing which ts into a channel portion of a sash guide and interlocks therewith so that the sash guide channel selectively receives either the sash guide as a whole, or receives only the tubular casing which, by projecting beyond the face of the sash guide into the side rail groove of the sash provides guidance for the sash without spring balancing of the weight thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein: l

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a removable sash window installation equipped with the automaticallylocking sash balance of the present invention, taken along the line 1--1 in Figure 2; l

Figure 2 is a Vertical section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1, with'a portion of the sash balance casing and sash broken away to disclose the interior of the sash balance in its unlocked end balancing position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along Ithe line 3--3 in Figure 2, showing sash balances of the present invention installed on the right-hand side 'and reversed sash balance casings installed as sash guide ribs on the left-hand side, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through the lower end of the sash balance and trigger-tripping device, taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 5, with the sash balance tripped and unlocked;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 5--5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to the right-'hand portion of Figure 4, but with the sash removed from the window frame iand the sash balance automatically locked, according to the invention, showing the lower portion of the sash balance mainly in side elevation; and

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 7-7 in Figure 6, showing the lower portion of the sash balance substantially in front elevation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to 3 inclusive vshow a removable sash window installation, generally designated 8, according to one form of the invention, as consisting generally of a window frame 10 containing xed and resiliently-mounted sash guides, generally designated 12 and 14 respectively, which in turn -contain hollow guide ribs 16 and 18 respectively, the former of which serve as casings for automatically-locking sash balances, generally designated 20, on one side thereof engaging and balancing upper and lowersliding sashes 22 and 24 respectively.

The window frame 10 is conventional and includes the usual side members 26 interconnected by top and bottom members 28 and 30, the latter being the usual window sill. The window frame 10 is mounted in the usual opening above -the horizontal stud 32 and has the usual parting rail 34 recessed into the upper member 28 between the upper and lower sashes 22 and 24 (Figure l),

v which in turn are equipped with the usual Window panes 36 and 38 respectively. Each sash 22 and 24 is provided with the usual meeting rails 40 and 42 and top and bottom rails 44 and 46 and side rails 48 interconnecting the horizontal rails 40, 42, 44 and 46.

The side rails 48 of each sash 22 or 24 are provided with longitudinal vertical guide grooves 50 which on the right-hand side (Figure 3) slidably receive the elongated tubular casings 16 as guide ribs and on the left-hand side slidably receive the empty reversed tubular casings 18 as guide ribs. The side =rails 48 on the right-hand sides of the sashes 22 and 24 also contain recesses 52 extending inwardly from the guide grooves 50 (Figures 4 and 5), which recesses 52 in turn contain sash balance triggertripping devices, generally designated 54.

Each trigger-tripping device 54 consists of`asubsta11- tially tubular casing 56 having a face plate or mounting plate 58 drilled to receive fasteners 60 by which the device 54 is held in position. The casings 56 areof rectangular cross-section (Figure 5) with opposite parallel side walls 62 drilled to receive a pivot pin 64, the front wall 66 having an elongated slot 68 therein. Pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin 64 is a swinging dog or catch 70 in the form of an arm having an angled pointed tip 72 projecting through the slot 68. The catch 70 also has a socket 74 in which is mounted the outer end of ya compression spring 76, the rearward end of which engages the rearward ywall 78 of the casing 56 as an abutment (Figure 4). In this manner, the pointed tip 72 of the catch 70 is constantly urged outward through the slot 68 but is adapted to yield and be swung into 'the chamber Within the casing 56 as explained below in connection with the operation of the invention.

The iixed and resiliently-mounted sash guides 12 and 14 are of similar construction, except for their diiierence in mobility, hence a single description will suffice for both. Each sash guide 12 or 14 is preferably rolled from a snitable sheet metal, such as sheet aluminum and has spaced parallel edge walls 79 and a front wall' 80 (Figures 3\ and 5 with a pair of spaced channels 82 formed therein,

each of these channels 82 having bottom walls 83 and parallel guide grooves 84 formed in its opposite side walls 86. The guide grooves 84 are so positioned that they slidably receive guide ribs 88 projecting outwardly from the nud-portions ofthe side walls 90of the casin'gs or hollow guide ribs 16 or 18 midway between their front and rear walls 92 and 94 respectively. Each front wall 92 is provided with a slot 96 running from endY to end thereof, thus interrupting the otherwise tubular character of the rib or casing 16 or 18.

By reason ofV this construction, the tubular member 1'6 or 18 can be used either as a spring. balance casing, as on the right-hand side of Figure 3, or reversed andV used` as a hollow guide rib, as on the left-hand side of Figure 3, enabling., the same part to do doubie duty. Each of the sash guides 12: and 14 alougits approximate center line is` drilled and countersunk to receive fasteners 98 and 100 respectively, such as wood screws, threaded intorthewindow frame side members 26 (Figure 3). The fasteners 98 are relatively short and. hold the flanged edges 102 of the edge walls. 79 in xed abutting relationship with their respective window frame side member 26. The fasteners 100, on the other hand, are longer than the fas teners 98- so as to permit theA flanged edges 102 of the edge Walls 79 to be moved away from their respective window` frame side' members 26, being resiliently urged into such a position by helical compression springs 1.04v having their rearward ends seated in sockets 106 formed inthe. sidel member 26 and having their forward ends engaging the bottom walls 83 of the channels 82 of the resiliently-mounted sash guide 14. By this means, thel guide: ribs 18 are resiliently urged intoengagement with the. guide groovesv 50 in the side rails 48 on the left-hand sides ofthe sashes 22 and 24, the latter being in turn urgedy against. the tubular casings 16: of the sash balances 20which serve also as guide ribs.

The tubular casing 16- of each sashl balance 20 is drilled at its upper end to receive a transverse spring anchorage pin 106 (Figure 2) to which is anchored the hooked upper end of. an elongated helical tension spring or balancing spring. 108, the hooked lower end' of which is hooked throughl the eye'110 (Figures 4', 6and' 7) of a cable anchorage clip 112 havingA aferrule 114 in which the reversely-bent upper end portion 1-16 of ak short ileXible wire cable member 118 is firmly secured. The lower portion:` of the cable'118 passes through a substantially vertical bore 120 ina sash locking plate 122 and has an enlarged head 124 seated in# a socket 126 in the bottom thereof (Figure 4). The sash-locking plate 122vl on its rearward locking edge is provided with a sharp transverse edge 128 and on its front side with a laterally-prejectingv trigger portion;1v30 having a sash-engaging abutment surface 132 on its upper side and a rounded. catch-deflecting surface 1:34' on. its lower side..

Rearwardly ofthe. bore 120, the locking plate 122 below the sharp edge 128 is bored transversely to receive apivotpin 136,- uponwhich the locking plate 1.22 is rockably mounted (Figures 6 and 7)-. The locking plate. 122 is rockably mounted in a parallel-walled notch 1:38 in the: upper end of aireciprocatory guide block 140reciprocably mounted inthe casing, 16:. The opposite ends of the pivot pin: 113.6 are seated'. inalignedY bores 142. (Figure 7) in the block 140 on. opposite: sidesof the notch 138 insuch a manner that the trigger portion 130 projects outward. through the slot, 96I into the path of the tip '7:2 of the catch 70' when: the. sharpl edge 128v is in engagement with the rearward wall 94 of the: casing: 16; The. pivot pin. 13'6 is mounted slightly to.- th'ez rear of. the cable.r 1?18l and slightly below' the level: of the: abutment surface 132; of the locking: plate 1Z2, the' spacing of the cableV connection fromi theA pivotv 136: providing a rocking, lever armupon the; locking: plate 1'22. The locking' plate 1%22 is preferably ofa tough material;y such\ as polymeric amide synthetic plastic, known commercially as nylon,

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the sashes 22 and 24 have been inserted in the window frame 10 and engaged with their respective guides 12 and 14 by inserting them one by one obliquely against the resilient sash lguide 14 so as to push it to the left and permit the casing 16 of the sash balance 20 to enter the guide groove 54 in the side rail 48 (Figure 3). Let it also be assumed that the sashes 22 and 24 are in sufciently raised positions that their respective catches 70 are above the locking plates 122 and pulled downward (Figure 4) in a manner sufficient to engage the abutment surface 132 of the trigger portion 130 and swing the locking plate 122 counterclockwise around its pivot pin 136 so as to withdraw the sharp edge 128 thereof from locking engagement with the rear wall 94. The catch 72 in its outward swinging is limited by the upper end of the slot 68 from projecting too far into the interior of the casing 16. Under these conditions, the sash balances 20 are unlocked and the tensions of their springs 108 are applied in balancing relationship to their respective sashes 22 and 24 (Figures 2 and 4).

If, now, one of the sashes 22 or 24 is removed by pushing it to the left against the resiliently-mounted sash guide 14 (Figure 3) so as to free the right-hand guide grooves 50 from engagement with the casings 16 and permit the sash` 22 orv 24 toA be withdrawn from the window frame 10. When this occurs, the tip 72 of the catch 70' is disengaged` from itsabutment surface 132 on the trigger portion of thelocking plate 122, permitting the spring 108 in pulling upward upon the cable 118 to rock the locking plate 122 clockwise (Figure 6) aroundits pivot pin 136, causing the sharp edge 128 thereof to engage and dig into the rear wall 94 of the casing 16, thereby locking the sash balance 20 in its extended position with the spring 108 in its tensioned condition.

When the sash 22 or 24- is again inserted in the window frame 10' with the tip 72 of the catch 70 onk a level below the trigger portion 130 ofthe locking plate 122, lifting of the sash 22 or 24-moves its respective trigger-tripping de-V vice 54 upward so that the' tip 72 of the catch 70 is swung away from the locking plate 22 by being cammed against the curvedl lower edge 134 of the trigger portion 130, compressing the spring 76. The latter, however, inr-v porti`on128'v from its engagement with the rear wall 94l of' the casing 16 of the sash balance 20. The latter thereupon'. resumes: itsbalancing function untill it is next d'esired' to remove thesash' 22 or 24.

What I clainr is :z

I.. An automatically-locking sashbalance` for aY sash removably mounted a window frame, said balance comprising an elongated hollow casing having an elongated aperture therein,` a resilient sash balancing member anchoredi to' said casing and disposed therein, alock carrier reciprocably mounted in said casing and having a pivotl elementthereon', and? aiV locking member rockab'ly mounted on saidE pivot' element and connected't to saidresilient'mem'- ber at a location spaced away from said pivot' element providing a rocking lever arm and` onf-said lockingmember, said'. locking. member having ai trigger portionV disposed adjacent said; aperture and rockable' unitarily' with said'` locking member' and?y a'. locking portion disposed re'- mote therefrom. and also rockablev unitarily with'. said locking member into and.y out. of locking' engagement with saidi casingLinfresponse' to rockingfofV said lockingmember relatively tui said; lock; carrier,V said resilient members beL ing. responsive: to'il the: removali2 of. the" sash: from engagement with' sa'id'-V trigger portion for effecting rocking of said lockngiportion: ofv said' lockingy member intol locking engagement with said casing.

2. An automatically-locking sash balance for a sash removably mounted in a window frame, said balance comprising an elongated hollow casing having an elongated aperture therein, a resilient sash balancing member anchored to said casing and disposed therein, a lock carrier reciprocably mounted in said casing and having a pivot element thereon, and a locking member rockably mounted on said pivot element and connected `to said resilient member at a location spaced away from said pivot element providing a rocking lever arm on said locking member, said locking member having a trigger portion disposed adjacent said aperture and rockable unitarily with said locking member and a locking portion disposed remote therefrom and also rockable unitarily with said locking member into and out of locking engagement with said casing in response to rocking of said locking member relatively to said lock carrier, said resilient member being responsive to the removal of the sash from engagement with said trigger portion for effecting rocking of said locking portion of said locking member into locking engagement with said casing, said resilient member being connected to said locking member between said trigger portion and said pivot element.

3. An automatically-locking sash balance for a sash removably mounted in a window frame, said balance comprising an elongated hollow casing having an elongated aperture therein, a resilient sash balancing member anchored to said casing and disposed therein, a lock carrier reciprocably mounted in said casing and having a pivot element thereon, and a locking member rockably mounted on said pivot element and connected to said resilient member at a location spaced away from said pivot element providing a rocking lever arm on said locking member, said locking member having a trigger portion disposed adjacent said aperture and rockable unitarily with said locking member and a locking portion disposed remote therefrom and also rockable unitarily with said locking member into and out of locking engagement with said casing in response to rocking of said locking member relatively to said lock carrier, said resilient member being responsive to the removal of the sash from engagement with said trigger portion for effecting rocking of said locking portion of said locking member into locking engagement with said casing, said locking portion being disposed on the opposite side of said pivot element from said trigger portion.

4. An automatically-locking sash balance for a sash removably mounted in a Window frame, said balance comprising an elongated hollow casing having an elongated aperture therein, a resilient sash balancing member anchored to said casing and disposed therein, a lock carrier reciprocably mounted in said casing and having a pivot element thereon, and a locking member rockably mounted on said pivot element and connected to said resilient member at a location spaced away from said pivot element providing a rocking lever arm on said locking member, said locking member having a trigger portion disposed adjacent said aperture and rockable unitarily with said locking member and a locking portion disposed remote therefrom and also rockable unitarily with said locking member into and out of locking engagement with said casing in response to rocking of said locking member relatively to said lock carrier, said resilient member being responsive to the removal of the sash from engagement with said trigger portion for effecting rocking of said locking portion of said locking member into locking engagement with said casing, said resilient member being connected to said locking member between said trigger portion and said pivot element, said locking portion being disposed on the opposite side of said pivot element from said trigger portion.

5. An automatically-locking sash balance for a sash removably mounted in a window frame, said balance comprising an elongated hollow casing having an elongated aperture therein, a resilient sash balancing member anchored to said casing and disposed therein, a lock carrier reciprocably mounted in said casing and having a pivot element thereon, and a locking member rockably mounted on said pivot element and connected to said resilient member at a location spaced away from said pivot element providing a rocking lever arm on said locking member, said locking member having a trigger portion disposed adjacent said aperture and rockable unitarily with said locking member and a locking portion disposed remote therefrom and also rockable unitarily with said locking member into and out of locking engagement with said casing in response to rocking of said locking member relatively to said lock carrier, said resilient member being responsive to the removal of the sash from engagement with said trigger portion for effecting rocking of said locking portion of said locking member into locking engagement with said casing, said locking portion having a sharp edge thereon adapted to penetrate said casing.

6. An automatically-locking sash balance for a sash removably mounted in a window frame, said balance comprising an elongated hollow casing having an elongated aperture therein, a resilient sash balancing member anchored to said casing and disposed therein, a lock carrier reciprocably mounted in said casing and having a pivot element thereon, and a locking member rockably mounted on said pivot element and connected to said resilient member at a location spaced away from said pivot element providing a rocking lever arm on said locking member, said locking member having a trigger portion disposed adjacent said aperture and rockable unitarily with said locking member and a locking portion disposed remote therefrom and also rockable unitarily with said locking member into and out of locking engagement with said casing in response to rocking of said locking member relatively to said lock carrier, said resilient member being responsive to the removal of the sash from engagement with said trigger portion for eiecting rocking of said locking member into locking engagement ywith said casing, locking portion of said locking member into locking engagement with said casing, said locking member comprising a plate rockably mounted on said pivot element, said trigger portion comprising a projection extending forwardly from said plate toward said aperture, and said locking portion comprising a sharp-edged projection extending rearwardly from said plate toward the rear wall of said casing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,631,336 Weissman Mar. 17, 1953 2,734,235 Trammell Feb. 14, 1956 2,747,219 Haas May 29, 1956 2,772,449 Nicol Dec.4, 1956 2,778,067 Curtze Jan. 22, 1957 2,791,795 Haas May 14, 1957 2,796,630 Haas June 25, 1957 Patent No.5` 2,@O3,73 September l5, 1959 Fred C, Osten, ST.

It is hereby oertfiedthat erf-for ent requiring correction and that the s comected below.

appear-s in the above numbered pataid Letter-S Patent should read as Column 4, line @4, striiie out "3MTM line YIY for "members" read member eoIumn e, lime 48, strike out "looking member into locking engagement with seid oesing" Signed and seeIecI 'this 29th dey of June IQL (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

